Smoking facts involving the different aids available for those who seriously want to end their addiction to smoking. Here are four popular aids to quit smoking and help smokers in quitting the bad habit of smoking. Health complications related to smoking are among the top reasons for medical consultations today. Fortunately, there are a lot of medications and counseling or therapy services available to help millions of smokers all over the world to quit the habit of smoking.

For most smokers, taking medications and attending therapy sessions are the typical recommended treatments so they can quit smoking for good. Aside from taking medications, there are a number of helpful aids for quitting smoking that do not include nicotine consumption. The most common of these aids are the self-conditioning therapy, telephone-based therapy, support system from friends and family, as well as the quit programs.

Smoking Aid 1: Self-conditioning Therapy

Lucky for some smokers, they do not need to undergo any treatment or medication to quit smoking for they are able to condition or handle their cravings. Conditioning one’s mind to avoid smoking works if the person is serious in quitting the habit.

Smoking Aids 2: Telephone-based Therapy

As part of the massive campaign for anti-smoking, programs like telephone-based therapy are introduced as aid for the public in their course of retiring from the habit of smoking. In this type of therapy, smokers are given the chance to talk with specialists who are well-trained to conduct counseling with individuals who want to quit smoking. Smokers who adhere in telephone-based therapies are basically given a quit plan that corresponds to their smoking conditions. This program is actually a superb complementary treatment as it gives better results when taken side by side with conventional anti-smoking treatments. Counselors are able to guide smokers in determining the things and situations they should avoid in order to have a successful quitting process.

Smoking Aid 3: Support From Family Members and Friends

It is proven in smoking-related studies that support from family members and friends plays an important role in the speedy process of quitting from the smoking habit. It is essential for support providers to be sincere and understanding enough to the situation of their loved ones who want to refrain from smoking for good. Aside from family and friends, other sources of support are co-workers, therapists, as well as colleagues from quitting programs.

Smoking Aid 4: Quit Programs

Perhaps the best thing about joining quit programs is that a person gets to be around smokers who are also serious about ending their addiction to smoking. Quit smoking programs provide basic smoking facts and guide smokers in coping in the process of quitting from the habit. These programs are also great providers of support and encouragement in refraining from smoking.

One-on-one counseling is claimed to be one of the most effective therapies in quit smoking programs, for it holds strong therapy intensity. Effectiveness of an anti-smoking therapy is based on how intense the programs are. Hence, a greater chance of quitting success for those who undergo intense healing therapies.

On the other hand, smokers should also be wary when choosing stop smoking programs for there are institutions that advertise false benefits. Programs that should be avoided are those who promise instant success once availing their services; those who use pills or other medications as part of their treatments; as well as those that are unwilling to provide references for their services.

Brain exercises helps slow down and help control some mental illnesses. Mental Illness can be difficult and challenging to deal with as you get older in life. There are many different types of mental illness in the world, and they affect people differently. This is why it is often so hard to pinpoint what they situation is and then to find the right course of treatment for it. The goal with such treatment is to help the individual have as good of a quality of life as possible. Since there is no known cure for mental illness this is the next best thing to offer.

There has been some research to indicate that brain exercises can help to reduce the effects of some mental illnesses. Many people suffer from Alzheimer’s where they can’t remember things very well. This typical affects older individuals and the onset of it is generally slow. However, it can make the quality of life very poor for such an individual. They can become a threat to themselves as well so they need constant care.

Starting Brain Exercises At A Younger Age Could Be Beneficial

By engaging in brain exercises at a young age though it may be possible to prevent such a mental illness from taking control of your brain functions. As a person gets older it is natural for their cognitive abilities to decline. However, there is also research that shows it doesn’t have to be this way at all. Instead it is possible for a person to continue improving on a cognitive level as they get older.

Most people don’t realize that they should work to train their brain. Allowing it to just format any way that it will without some direction from you isn’t a good idea. Yet that is a concept that too many people have never given any thought to. How can you expect your brain to form the way you want it to if you don’t have any defined goals about what that is?

Many people have coined brain exercising to reduce the risk of mental illness as mental fitness. It is never too late for someone to change how their thinking process is. That is the good news because people too often assume that what a person has always done is what they are destined to continue doing. Change can be difficult but it can also be accomplished with dedication and a good game plan.

The younger that you are when you start engaging in brain exercises to reduce the risk of mental illness the better off you will be. Those individuals with a family history of mental illness definitely want to do all they can in order to prevent it. There is still plenty of research in this area though that has to be done. While we are far from having all of the answers, we are also on the right path.

Brain Exercises Can Help You Have A Healthier Life

The more that you work your brain the better it is going to be. The effort you put into it is going to help you live a happier and healthier life. The time you invest in the process today is going to pay off for you in the days ahead. Decades from now you can continue to be a confident and productive member of society as well. There is a great deal of personal power that comes from brain exercising so don’t underestimate it.

Another benefit is that you will be able to get your mental health and your physical health in balance with each other. This is important because they are both a part of how you will look and how you will feel. When one of them isn’t getting the attention it needs then you as a person will suffer. Exercising your brain is every bit as important as exercising your body.

The fact that brain exercises do offer so many benefits is a good reason for you to take part in them. There is still plenty of research that has to be done in order to fully determine how they can help people with mental illness. Taking part in such activities though can help you do all you can to reduce the risk of suffering from such problems when you get older. Since it is possible that such benefits exist you want to give yourself the opportunity to really benefit from them. Stimulation is another way to benefit your brain especially in the morning when you first get up.

Stimulating Your Brain Early In The Morning Is Rewarding

We often take for granted that our brains are able to function in amazing ways. We also tend to forget that this is a very important part of our bodies to really take good care of. One way you can treat your brain well is to stimulate it each day before you get out of bed. It doesn’t take long to accomplish, and it is going to help you face each new day in a positive light.

Set your alarm for ten minutes earlier than you have to be out of bed. This way you can relish the time to stimulate your brain and not worry about being late for work. Stretch each part of your body and really focus on it when you are doing so. Wiggle your fingers and your toes too. Pay attention to how it feels as you freely move each one of them. You may feel silly doing these activities but they are very good for you.

As you are stimulating your brain in the morning before you get out of bed, you are going to stimulate the nerve endings to your brain. You are going to become alert and look forward to your day. If you often end up sluggish in the morning then this could be a great way to wake you up and get your day off to a better start.

When you stimulate your brain each morning before you get out of bed you will be safer too. Research shows that this can help you to stay focused and to be well balanced. This can help reduce the risk of injuries due to falls. Many individuals find that they are more alert on their commute to work as well as throughout the day when they start it by stimulating their brain.

Stimulating Your Brains Creative and Visual Fantasies

When we are children we tend to be very visual by nature. We have creative fantasies and stories that we role play all day long. However, as adults we don’t allow ourselves to have those types of pleasures. You can turn back the hands of time though and incorporate them into your morning routine. Imagine yourself as a princess or a rock star before you get out of bed in the morning. Stimulate your brain by focusing on the vivid images of what would unfold in your life.

Try to incorporate all of our senses into those images as well. What did it feel like? What did it smell like? What were you saying and what was being said back to you? How did food taste? The more of these senses that you can pull into your imaginative stories the more stimulated your brain will become. These stories should put a nice smile on your face to begin the day with as well.

Have some classical music by your bed that you can easily turn on without getting up in the morning. Focus on listening to the sound of it for about 10 minutes. Doing so is going to open up your mind to many things. Identify the flow of the music as well as what will come next. As you become more familiar with the music it is going to be easier to end up thinking about something else as you listen to it. Don’t let that happen though – make a conscious effort to focus all of your attention on only the music for that span of time.

Some people would prefer to engage in such a process before bed to help them unwind. While that can be helpful and it can help you to get a good night of sleep, too many people rush through the process in order to get it done at night. Others fall asleep before they are able to complete it. So the best rule of thumb if you want to really stimulate your brain is to take part in such activities first thing in the morning.

Adults of today was a child decades ago. While today many express concerns of over diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children, many also acknowledge the under diagnosing of adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Adults with ADHD often realize that they have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder when their own child is diagnosed. Looking through the list of symptoms, the parent often sees similarities in their own present or past behavior.

Many people don’t associate ADHD with adults. They think it is simply a disorder affecting children only. ADHD actually affects many adults and if you were diagnosed in childhood, it is possible that you still have some of the symptoms. It is also very probable that many adults have ADHD, which was not diagnosed at an earlier time.

Understanding the symptoms and the solutions may prove to be very beneficial. Realizing why you act or react to events on your daily life can greatly help improve your state of mind and quality of life.

There is a huge variety of symptoms for adult ADHD and they may affect everything from your career to your personal relationships.

Becoming educated on the topic is the first step. After you acknowledge and understand the challenges, you will be able to start recognizing and taking advantage of your strong points while learning how to cope and compensate for any weaknesses.

For any adult, life can seem to be one continuous balancing act. We all feel overwhelmed and disorganized sometimes; however, if you find yourself struggling to be punctual, constantly forgetting things, completely disorganized and overwhelmed by your responsibilities, you may have ADHD.

Understanding ADHD in Adults

Many adults go life undiagnosed and resign themselves to thinking “this is just me; this is just my unorganized way of living.”

Many adults who have ADHD have been labelled as a dreamer, a troublemaker, a slacker or someone who goofs off. Many, sadly have low self-esteem because they grew up feeling or being called “stupid,” and got into trouble for talking too much or seeming not to pay attention.

Symptoms of ADHD in Adults

Many of us associate hyperactivity, disorganization or inability to concentrate with ADHD. In adulthood, some of this restless behavior may also present itself in forms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, anxiety, and/or an inability to calm the mind.

These behaviors are all representative of constant engagement with little respite, and feeling unable to switch off or relax without resorting to drugs or medication. Because of this stress is also common. ADHD symptoms may also show as having low self-esteem, difficulty controlling anger, depression and mood swings.

Patients may have difficulty in keeping long term relationships whether in their personal life or at work. They can easily get frustrated and bored with their life and always be searching for something more.

They may develop anxiety problems and are prone to different forms of addiction, such as alcohol. They have difficulty finding and especially keeping a job and can’t stay in one place of employment for any length of time. The grass always looks greener over the fence. New jobs quickly become unsatisfying and fault found with bosses and coworkers.

Myths and Facts Regarding ADD / ADHD in Adults

There is a common misconception that adult ADHD is no more than a lack of willpower. Some feel that those with ADHD could focus on their tasks if they really wanted to apply themselves.

The line of thinking is that as we all show some of these symptoms at some point, that anyone who tried hard enough could overcome them if they wanted to. This is a simplistic attitude to a problem that can be very complex.

ADHD can affect anyone, regardless of their intelligence level.

ADHD when left untreated may lead to increasing emotional, psychological, and social problems, therefore, some form of treatment, whether it be medication, management or therapy will be helpful. Anyone who shows chronic symptoms should seek diagnosis, instead of letting these symptoms detract from their quality of life.

Smoking has caused damages to many of people. If you don’t believe me look at the statistics they don’t lie. It’s important especially if you are a smoker, that you take a minute in evaluate your situation about how you are going to live the rest of your life.

Several company were developed by a group of doctors and health professionals to provide health and wellness information to anyone with an Internet connection. These companies pull no punches when they talk about the deadly dangers of smoking.

The globally recognized, free web-based health advocate says, “Smoking’s damage is swift and irreversible.” As with many lifestyle choices, there are far-reaching effects.

Smoking used to be glamorized in Hollywood movies and television programs of the 1950s and 1960s. Commercial advertising of cigarettes was allowed, and made a lot of money for the tobacco industry.

In the 1970s and 1980s, researchers in the United States and elsewhere around the world began to understand the very real and very long-lasting negative effects smoking has on the human body and mind. For instance, did you know that …

In a young person who smokes for the very first time, even someone who has never had exposure to secondhand smoke, a single cigarette stiffens the arteries by 25%, making the heart work harder.

The damage may be even more significant than that. Researcher Stella Daskalopoulou, MD, of the McGill University Health Centre in the United States, points out that “… cigarette smoking starts inflicting very significant damage on the arteries with the very first puffs taken by otherwise healthy young smokers.” Aside from the heart, significant pressure and stress is placed on the lungs by smoking tobacco products.

Wherever people smoke, anywhere from 75% to over 90% of lung cancer is due to cigarette smoking. This begs the question … can a person’s lungs recover from the damage done by smoking, or is this a permanent condition?

Some Lung Damage from Smoking Is Permanent, and Irreversible

The sad truth is that even minimal smoking causes permanent damage to the lungs. This is not to say you shouldn’t quit smoking immediately if you smoke right now, since significant recovery in parts of the lungs and other areas of the body begins to take place immediately upon the cessation of smoking tobacco products.

What happens in the lungs is that smoking destroys cilia, tiny hairs that protect your lungs against infection. Cilia are easy to kill off, and tobacco smoke does an especially good job at eradicating this natural filtering system from your lungs.

When you stop smoking, any functioning cilia will return to its naturally healthy abilities. However, cilia you have destroyed will never regrow or be replaced. Also, smoking permanently damages the air sacs in the lungs, elevating the risk of developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) like chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

The more you smoke, the more damage you do to your lungs, your heart and your entire body. There is not an organ in your body that is not negatively affected by tobacco smoke. Do whatever you can to stop smoking today.

Studies show that 10 to 15 years after quitting, your risk of developing lung cancer is equal to that of a person who has never smoked, even if you have smoked significantly in the past. Just remember that every puff you take does some irreversible damage to your lungs, and that is something you cannot repair, you can only prevent.

Your brain is a powerful thing. Take time to read up on it when you get an opportunity it will blow your mind. Just think of all the health issues that normal people have on a day to day basis. I could be here for days, the list would be so long. Don’t blame your focus and concentration on anyone else. Take full responsibility for your own mental issues.

“I think I have ADHD.” Blaming your lack of focus and concentration on actual conditions people suffer from is not the way to go. While it’s not completely far-fetched to assume you may actually be suffering from some kind of mental issue given your inability to focus in stressful situations or concentrate during a business meeting, there are some things you could change in your daily life that could potentially improve your concentration. So refrain from calling your doctor about ADHD just yet and try these tricks first, because it’s unlikely that you belong to the 4.5 percent of adults who have the condition.

Are Your Brain Composed Of Muscle Tissue?

While your brain is not exactly composed of muscle tissue, you could think of the mind as a muscle and through active training, you can strengthen its functionality, specifically when it comes to focus and concentration. The exercises, tricks, and lifestyle alterations listed below are great methods by which you can improve your concentration and focus and a daily and long-term bases.

1. Meditation

No, it’s not only for hipsters and Buddhists, meditation is something that everyone can take part in and for good reason too. Mindful meditation has been shown repeatedly to strengthen mental capacities and increase your attention span.

One study showed that 140 participants saw a significant increase in their attention span after just eight weeks of mindful meditation training. What’s more, you don’t have to devote a lifetime to this activity to see its benefits, after just four days of 10 to 20 minute meditation throughout the day you can improve your concentration to a great extent.

Mindfulness is something you can also practice throughout the day to help with not getting distracted. For instance, when you’re eating you can make it an active experience versus a passive activity, such as eating while watching television.

Concentrate on your chewing and experience all the flavors and textures. This sort of conscious thinking will lead it being less likely that you get easily distracted. Think in the now and be present when you feel yourself becoming occupied with other tasks.

2. Make a List

Everyone’s probably hear this one already, but it works, seriously. Increasing your ability to focus can be significantly influenced by something as simple as making a list of the things you have to do. Director of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training Program at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, Simon Rego, PsyD suggests composing a list prioritizing the important tasks first then creating a serape less urgent list.

Creating a list will not only prioritize your activities and deadlines but will prevent you from multitasking. Research time and time again has proven that despite our beliefs most people cannot multitask.

We are only able to tackle one issue at a time and trying to do multiple things at once will only decrease the value of work for each task and lead to you being easily distracted. Stay focused and concentrate on the first thing on your list.

3. Wiggle Your Feet

Ok this one sounds weird but it works and it’s one of the things Olivia Fox Cabane, author of The Charisma Myth suggests doing. Cabane suggests that we can often tune out during a conversation or become completely distracted during something important.

We look for some kind of instant gratification and distraction like a new email or text. Cabane suggests that to avoid such instances take a moment and mindfully concentrate on your toes, wiggling them around. When you’re done, you will be able to handle some of your tasks with better focus.

4. Limit Distractions

It’s not just the emails and texts that can be the cause for your inability to focus, other small distraction limit attention span, so it’s important to seclude yourself form these diversions.

Our inability to disconnect from easily available tools like the internet, computers, and smart phones can be the main cause of our lacking attention capacities. Author Mel Robbins suggests leaving the phone out of the room and when you feel yourself getting distracted or unable to concentrate and start something just count to five and launch right into whatever it is your doing.

It’s that simple. Close the computer, leave the phone somewhere else, meditate in the morning, wiggle those toes, and get to work.

Anxiety and depression has symptoms similar to and along the lines of stress related situations. You don’t want to second guest yourself in this situation. It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious or depressed from time to time in response to life’s stressors. However when these feelings become prolonged, disproportionate or apparent for no significant reason and are affecting normal daily functioning, they need to be addressed. Thankfully diagnosis and treatment methods have come a long way, with many public health campaigns working towards bringing mental illness ‘out of the shadows’.

The co-occurrence of anxiety and depression is a noted feature of these disorders, while behavioral and emotional symptoms may differ within the two, the fact remains they are both an unnatural and unwelcome state of mental health. Characterized by a constant overwhelming state of fear or worry, anxiety can be debilitating too in its physical manifestations. The symptoms of depression may be similar with unrelenting feelings of sadness or despair.

The exact cause of such mental illness is still unclear; however changes in brain chemistry, genetic factors, and hormone function are all believed to play a role. Irrespective of the cause, mental illness requires and generally responds to professional treatment.

Best Methods of Treating Anxiety and Depression

Our understanding of mental illness has evolved over time, yet it still presents certain difficulties. Diagnostically speaking depression and anxiety primarily affects the way an individual thinks, feels and in most cases subsequently behaves; therefore we generally rely upon patients to identify these changes themselves and seek help. In some case family members or close friends may be able to identify vulnerable individuals and assist in requesting attention.

Once diagnosed however treatment can be quite successful using a variety of approaches; the most common of which are psychological therapies or ‘talking therapies’. Such therapies are generally administered by a qualified psychologist and involve either behavior modification (Cognitive Behavior Therapy or CBT) or examination of intrapersonal and interpersonal patterns and behaviors.

Generally work will be done to identify and address key triggers and ways of managing future events. Such therapies are often combined with a focus on improving nutrition and encouraging regular exercise, which itself can actively promote a healthy mental state. Indeed, a safe and effective first step towards self-empowerment is taking control over one’s diet. The benefits are both psychological and physiological.

Reducing or eliminating spikes caused by sugar-laden foods and stimulants, such as excess coffee, cigarettes, etc., will help in reducing the debilitating feelings associated with general anxiety.

Young people and children unfortunately are just as vulnerable to mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. While often harder to detect; once diagnosed applied therapies specifically designed for children can usually assist the child in living a happier and more fulfilling childhood.

A happier childhood better prepares the child for dealing with the stresses of teen years and young adulthood. The healthy and safe transition of young adulthood enables the individual to prepare for and live a life feeling in control, empowered and able to deal with everyday challenges.

Finally the use of antidepressant medication may be required; this depends on the severity of the illness and is most often used in conjunction with psychotherapies. Antidepressants can be very effective in some situations and like any medical case; treatment is generally specifically tailored to suit the individual.